The French brand Pébéo offers the range of acrylic paints for leather: Setacolor Cuir Leather. A complete range specially designed for application on leather. It allows you to customize or recolor shoes (sneakers), personalize your leather creations or repair your leather accessory.
High quality paints that resist scratches, bending and rubbing. They have excellent coverage.
Complete range :
- 23 matte-satin colors
- 12 effect colors (metal, glitter, fluorescent, phosphorescent and duochrome)
- 10 markers with an extra fine tip
- 6 auxiliaries dedicated to the preparation, creation and protection of your creations
As indicated on the brand's website, the resistance of the range was tested by a test protocol based on 100,000 folds but also by a wet friction resistance test after 200 cycles according to the ISO 11998 standard showing that the SETACOLOR CUIR range is 3 times more resistant than market standards. Today, what differentiates it from American Angelus paint is its range of shades which are intended to be complementary but also its additional products (eg markers and masking eraser). All the same, we recommend Angelus paint for customizing sneakers because it has already proven itself among professionals.
3 essential steps for using Pébéo paint: prepare, paint and protect.
Step 1: prepare and degrease the leather
We start by preparing the leather support with a degreaser or deglazer. This allows it to be degreased but also to remove the varnish and the protective layer which may cover the grain of the leather. The support will therefore be completely clean and adherent for the application of the paint.
Apply the product to the entire surface of the leather with a clean (cotton) cloth.
Step 2: Paint the Leather
Now that the support is ready, apply the paint, in thin layers, with clean brushes and allow to dry between each coat of paint.
We will present each product in the range and their effects to you.
Little tips :
- Shake paint cans well before using them.
- Use the cap of the paint cans to dip the brush in the colors without using too much.
- Remember to always have water and a cloth nearby to clean the brushes between each color.
Matte-satin paints
Matte-satin paints with unique and modern colors. Uniform and opaque in 3 thin coats maximum. Brush application more or less wide depending on your expectations.
The colors are mixable with each other to allow you to create an infinite number of colors and gradient tones.
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Drawing by ©artclay_in_wonderland
Glitter
3 glitter colors: silver, gold and iridescent. They can be used transparently on the support or worked on a color base.
Depending on the desired result, apply more or fewer layers. 1 coat to add some glitter, 3 coats for a completely opaque finish.
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Fluorescents
2 colors of fluorescent paint: fluorescent yellow and fluorescent pink. These colors also exist in markers. These paints are preferred on lighter leathers for optimal results.
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The metallic ones
3 metallic paint colors: gold, bronze and silver. The color intensifies when drying and is opaque after two coats. These paints are best used on darker leathers for optimal results.
The duochromes
Paintings with colors that change depending on the movement and angle of light. 3 color duos: pink/blue, blue/green and yellow/purple. The effect is more intense on dark leathers. Apply a black undercoat if the leather is lighter.
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The phosphorescent
This paint glows in the dark and applies thickly. For a better result, prefer application on a dark surface. It is necessary to first expose the painting to light to best reveal the phosphorescent effect once it is in the dark.
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The markers
Pébéo innovation: fine-tipped leather markers! This marker is ideal for writing and drawing small details. It exists in 10 different shades (these are the same shades as the paints offered in pots) .
Prime the tip by pressing on the pen; do not press too hard or for too long. The flow of paint will depend on the pressure you exert on the tip (to have more or less fine lines - this requires a little practice) . This can become blocked, it is easy to replace the tip (see video).
Creation by Tiphanie @artclay_in_wonderland with Pébéo leather markers:
The auxiliaries
Auxiliaries are products that allow you to create in different ways in addition to paint.
- GLUE : for gluing various materials (cotton, leather, polyester, pearls, powder, etc.) to leather.
- LIGHTENING THINNER : to thin, lighten paint and for airbrush application. The paint becomes a little lighter and more transparent without losing quality.
Zoom on airbrush painting:
Do not hesitate to consult our complete guide to leather dyeing, with a focus on airbrushing leather dyeing.
- THE MASK ERASER : create reserve areas for drawing or writing.
Zoom in on the masking eraser
It is applied in 2 thick coats. It dries quickly. Once dry (to the touch) , apply the paint on top, then apply the masking eraser simply with your fingers or a clean eraser. The gum must be removed within 15 days of application.
Be careful, after applying the masking eraser, it is very difficult to completely clean the brush.
Step 3: Protect the Leather
After the paint has dried for 24 hours, it is time to apply protection. Varnishes help protect the leather creation from friction, scratches and wear.
Two varnishes available: a satin matte varnish and a glossy varnish.
Mix well before applying the product in a thin layer. Also apply to glitter paints. Varnishes can be used with an airbrush.
Inspirations for those who can't draw
You don't have great drawing talent? Here are some tips:
- Drawing with a layer
Print drawings/patterns on a tracing sheet, then transfer the drawing onto vegetable-tanned leather with a modeler. Wet the leather before reproducing the pattern.
Then, with paint, fill in the pattern or outline it. Use a Pébéo marker to be more precise.
Download our pattern sheet for free here (to print on a tracing sheet) :
DOWNLOAD THE PATTERNS >
- Marking with stamps
Use stamps to mark a pattern on vegetable tanned leather. Then, paint the inside of the pattern.
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- Alphabet marking
Use alphabet stamps to write a word or sentence on vegetable tanned leather. Then come and paint the inside of the letters. Use a Pébéo marker to be more precise.
Focus on marbling paint
Pébéo offers a thickening bath for marbling. Pébéo paints are compatible for this type of technique. To find out more, do not hesitate to consult our guide on marbling paint.
A look back at the Pébéo event at the Deco Cuir store
Tiphanie from ©artclay_in_wonderland came to give a complete demonstration of the Pébéo paint range at the Deco Cuir store.
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